12th Grade Social Studies
Government and Citizenship
Character and Scholarship for Life
-Christ the King Preparatory High School
Mr. Toma
Room: AH (Assembly
Hall)
jtoma@ctkprep.org
Work Phone: 973.483.0033
ext 311
Overview:
In this class students will study government, political
science, citizenship, and current events.
Throughout the course students will work on writing, speaking, and
critical thinking skills. It is important
to understand the philosophy of our country, how it works, and to think critically
about how our government should protect our rights in a post 9-11 world.
Textbooks:
Civics: Responsibilities and Citizenship.
Glencoe/McGraw Hill, 1997.
We the People, the Citizen and the Constitution. Published by The Center for Civic
Education,
1995. This is reproduced in packets and serves as a secondary text.
Areas of Specific Study:
Why do we have a government? (Foundations of Government)
Students will examine the need for government, John Locke’s
Natural Rights, social contracts, and government power.
Chapter: 1
The Road to the Constitution
Students will examine how the Enlightenment Period and
European philosophers influenced the founding fathers and the Declaration of
Independence, and the Constitution.
Chapter: 2
The Constitution
Students will study federalism, checks and balances, the
struggle for the Bill of Rights, the rule of law, and the process for amending
the Constitution.
Project: Constitutional
Amendments Multimedia Project
Chapter: 3, 4
Honors by Choice Assessment
The Bill of Rights
Students will examine the importance of these rights and the
role they have played in our history. We
will also examine how these rights affect our lives in a post 9-11 world.
Chapter: 3, 4
Legislative Branch
Students will learn about the law-making power of the legislative
branch.
Project:
Student Bill Proposal-Legislative Session Simulation
Chapter:
5, 6, 7
Honors by
Choice Assessment
Executive Branch
This unit will look at the powers and responsibilities of
the President.
Chapter: 8, 9, 19
Project: Dinner with the President!
Honors by Choice: FEDERAL
/ STATE AGENCIES &
COMMISSIONS
PROJECT
Honors
by Choice Assessment
Judicial Branch
Students will learn about the role of the court system and
how the power of judicial review has helped shape our laws.
Project:
Mock Trial or Supreme Court Cases
Chapter:
11, 12
Honors by Choice: Analysis of a Supreme Court
Case
Honors by Choice Assessment
Political Parties and Election
Students will investigate the differences between the two
main political parties and examine where they fall on the political
spectrum.
Project:
Election Simulation
Chapters:
16, 17, 27
All Units: The Rights, responsibilities, and role of
American Citizens and non-citizens in the United States.
Throughout the term students will examine ways in which they
can participate in our government.
Through projects, discussions, writing, and other activities, students
will uncover their roles in a representative democracy.
Projects
There are four major projects in Civics: Constitutional Amendments
Multimedia, Dinner with the President, Election Simulation, and the Mock Trial/Supreme
Court Cases. These projects are done and
assessed on an individual basis. Identical projects will be given a zero and a
letter will be submitted in the student’s file. Group projects must reflect
participation of all members.
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